Since
remodeling and reopening last year, downtown’s Taft Theatre already was
programming a more adventurous concert lineup than usual. This year, the
venue has already announced shows by more “mid-level” groups like Trampled By Turtles and JJ Grey & Mofro, both cult faves and Southgate alumni.

If a duo can qualify as a “supergroup,” then Freekbot is a legit local music supergroup. Freekbot features Freekbass (a.k.a.
bassist/singer Chris Sherman of Funk crew Freekbass) and Tobotius
(a.k.a. Tobe Donohue, producer and founder of world-renowned turntable
crew Animal Crackers) in an Electronic duo configuration.

Local Ska/Reggae/Soul group The
Pinstripes are throwing themselves a well-deserved release party in
honor of their solid sophomore LP, titled simply I, this Friday
at Bangarang’s of Covington (in the old Mad Hatter space).
Firecracker-hot Chicago Soul/Funk band JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
joins eclectic local Indie group SHADOWRAPTR and Funk/Soul/Pop crew Sassafraz as openers for the all-ages, 8:30 p.m. show.

Covington native and legendary bassist on
numerous crucial sessions done for Cincinnati’s King Records, Ed
Conley, passed away on Jan. 5 at the age of 84. Following the private
memorial for family a couple of weeks ago, friends and admirers this
Thursday will gather at the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home (inside Spring
Grove Cemetery at 4521 Spring Grove Ave.) at 1 p.m. for a public
ceremony.

One of the hardest touring and most
internationally renowned bands to come out of Cincinnati in the past
decade, electrifying carnival rockers Foxy Shazam, are all set to
release their new album, The Rock and Roll Church, which is due
in stores this Tuesday.

Friday at Northside Tavern, “Cosmic Roots” band Shiny Old Soul celebrates the release of its first full-length album, Cash Is King. The band is joined by Sassy Molasses and Dante’s Gypsy Circus for the free event.

The Southgate House wasn’t the only
storied and beloved local music venue to shut down after its New Year’s
Eve 2011 show. Last Saturday also marked the end of local Jazz
institution the Blue Wisp Jazz Club … at least at its home on Eighth
Street between Broadway and Sycamore. Unlike the Southgate, fans of the
Wisp shouldn’t be sad, though.

The Southgate House’s show on New Year’s
Eve headlined by local Punk band The Dopamines will be the last ever for the beloved Newport club under its current,
longstanding management. The future of the venue under new ownership is
uncertain.

On Aug. 30 of last year, local Country
artist Dallas Moore and his band teamed up with longtime Willie Nelson
guitarist Jody Payne to celebrate the 61st anniversary of music icon
Hank Williams’ historic recording sessions at Cincinnati’s Herzog
recording facilities.

Though there are a few local bands that
have been known to play only one show a year, but the Punk Pop band Kevin and
the Octaves might be the only active, successful act capable of pulling
off an annual “one-off.”

The day after popular Covington club The Mad Hatter hosted
its “closing party,” Newport’s Southgate House, one of the most
unique and notable venues in the Midwest, issued a press release to
announce its own closing. While the Mad Hatter booking/managing core will continue in a similar vein with shows at the Madison
Theater and a new, smaller venue nearby that's reportedly set to open
in the new year, the Southgate House “magic” is a bit harder to
replicate.

Black Friday is not only about bargains
and mall stampedes. This year, singer/songwriter/guitarist Maurice
Mattei and his band The Tempers have chosen the day after Thanksgiving
to release its latest project, The Tempers Christmas Show, in
conjunction with a performance Friday at the York Street Café in
Newport.

The website Cincy Groove is a great
resource for local music fans, with podcasts, interviews, reviews, news
and photography centered around area performers and touring artists
coming to town. Photographer/designer/artist Scott Preston founded the
site four years ago. This Saturday, the site is hosting a fourth
anniversary party at Covington’s Madison Theater.

The Cincinnati Entertainment Awards
ceremony is just a couple weeks away (deadline to vote for your favorite
nominees is Friday at noon), but its sister event, BRINK: A New Music
Showcase, returns for its 11th year this Saturday.